"Two other firms I know about were less fortunate. Morton-Norwich Products introduced Encare, a vaginal suppository contraceptive, and American Home Products came out with a similar product called Semicid at about the same time. Both advertised that the products were safer than IUDs and that, unlike the "pill," they had no hormonal side effects. They called the items a safe, medically tested, positive method of birth control, which they are. But, the Federal Trade Commission has ruled that the firms cannot claim a comparative advantage over other methods unless they also state that the new product is not as effective as the others. The FTC says the only novel aspect of the new products is the suppository form, and that has very little advantage to the consumer. Both firms now have to distribute a new pamphlet telling the advantages and disadvantages of all forms of birth control. All of this may be well and good--I don't know--but the aspect that bothers me is that the two firms were ruled responsible for telling consumers the good things about their competitors, not just the bad. Why do you suppose the FTC ruled the way it did, and is this a forecast of what we are all going to face? Since when am I responsible for helping potential customers choose a competitor's product?"